Driving laws are enforced rules that each state has concerning drivers and how they behave on the road. These laws include seat belt usage, driving under the influence, financial responsibility, older drivers and younger drivers, and liability coverage. Seat belt laws are enforced in most states, and there are two variations of this law. The first is known as a primary seatbelt enforcement law. This law allows police officers for noncompliance with those particular states seatbelt laws. The second is known as the secondary seatbelt enforcement law, which means they can only issue a seatbelt violation if the car has been stopped for another infraction. “Drunk under the influence” laws have many harsh penalties for this particular crime, and the laws are very detailed when it comes to enforcing them. The legal limit for driving under the influence is a blood alcohol level of .08, it is with no exception, legal to drive with a blood alcohol level above .08, and the legal drinking age is 21. Under the “Administrative License Revocation Law”, an enforcement officer is legally allowed to suspend a driver’s license at the time of arrest. Other measures to punish those who choose to drive under the influence include, ignition locks, sobriety checkpoints, jail, fines, and the cancellation of vehicle registration for repeat offenders.
     The financial responsibility laws require that drivers, who are involved in motor vehicle accidents, must be able to show proof of insurance, and proof of financial responsibility of a certain dollar amount. Most insurance groups recommend automobile insurance with a bodily injury protection of 100,000, and 300,000 per accident. Since young and teen drivers account for a large number of motor vehicle accidents, many states are working hard to enact and enforce certain laws pertaining to this group. Some states are pushing for the legal driving age to be changed to 18, and requiring drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 to apply for graduated drivers licenses which would give them more time to practice and hone their safe driving skills before receiving their full driving privileges.  Liability coverage is that which requires drivers to purchase a minimum amount of bodily injury, and property damage liability insurance before they can legally drive or register their cars.  In several states, there is a mandate in place called the “no-fault law” which states that regardless of who caused an accident, your insurance is responsible for injuries sustained in that accident.
     Rules of the road are not only set in place to protect drivers, but all those who use and travel on the roadways. This would include pedestrians, bicyclists, horse riders, and motorcyclists. It is everyone’s job who is using the roadways, to know and understand the driving laws and rules of the road. Knowing the laws of driving are not just important to pass a driver’s test, they are laws which must be put into use every time you take your place behind a motor vehicle, or mode of transportation which puts you on the road.